Commodore Junk Part 66

"Sure and ye're a purty fowl, and I'm much obliged to ye for the information," said Dinny, as the bird erected its brilliant crest, stared wildly, and then flew off with its long green tail-feathers streaming out behind. "He says there's n.o.body about, sor, or he wouldn't be here. Come along."

It seemed like a dream to Humphrey after his sleepless night, to find himself once more in the gloomy corridor with the faint light streaming in at the side-openings, instead of in a boat, dancing over the blue waters and leaving the buccaneer's nest behind. But it was the bare reality, as Dinny went forward, drew the great curtain aside, and he pa.s.sed in and on from behind the great idol to throw himself, worn-out and exhausted, upon his couch of skins.

"Sure and I wouldn't trate it like that, sor," cried Dinny, cheerfully.

"We have eshcaped, sor, though we haven't got away, and been obliged to come back again."

"Don't talk folly, man."

"An' is it folly ye call it! Sure an' we have eshcaped, or else why are they all in purshuit of us? We've got away, and they fale it, and all that's happened is that we did rache the boat, but had to come back here for a rest till we were riddy to go on. Sure, sor, ye're hungry. Ate some of the tortillas and drink some of the wine, and thin, if ye won't think it presumption, I'll say--afther you."

"Eat and drink, man. You must be faint. I have no appet.i.te."

"Ah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Dinny, after a pause of about a quarter of an hour, which he had bravely employed, "there's nothing like food and dhrink, if it's only potaties and b.u.t.thermilk. Sure I'm ready for annything now, and so will ye be, sor, as soon as the wine begins to work."

"Dinny, I'm ready for anything, now; but we cannot stay here."

"Git up, sor, if ye wouldn't moind," said Dinny.

Humphrey obeyed dejectedly as the man advanced.

"Sure, sor, and it's a wondherful owld place this, and there must have been some strange games carried on. Now, sor, in all the months ye've been here, did ye iver look under the bed?"

"Under the bed, man?" cried Humphrey. "Why, it is a huge block of stone."

"Is it, now, sor? Sure and didn't I help fit up the place for ye when ye first came, an' by the captain's orders? Sure and I know all about it. 'Dinny, me boy,' me mother used to say to me, 'ye haven't got a watch and ye've got no money, but ye may have both some day, so beware of thayves and robbers; and whiniver ye go to slape in a sthrange place, be sure ye look under the bed.' An' yer mother niver gave you that advice, sor?"

He walked to the couch and threw up the skins which covered it, revealing what seemed to be a low, square bench of stone, whose top was one enormous slab.

"Now, sor," said Dinny, "would ye moind thrying to lift that?"

Humphrey stepped quickly to his side, bent down, seized the projecting slab, tried to raise it, and then straightened himself and shook his head.

"A dozen men could not raise it, Dinny," he said.

"No, sor, but a Kelly can. Look here."

He bent down, placed his shoulder to one corner, gave a thrust, and the whole top glided round as if on a pivot, and revealed an opening dimly lit apparently from below.

"There, sor," he said, "I dishcovered that by accident when I was here alone wan day. I pushed a big stone against that corner and it gave way, and when I pushed the whole place opened, and down there's as good a hiding-place as a man need have."

"Dinny," cried Humphrey, excitedly, "and doesn't the captain know of this?"

"Sure and I think the last man who knew of it died before the flood, sor, and it hasn't been opened since."

"And these rough stairs--where do they lead?"

"Down into the cabin, sor, where there's a little door out into the forest. Sure and the artful baste who made it little thought he was going to find us as purty a hiding-place as was ever made. There it is, sor, all ready for us if we hear annyone coming. If we do, down we go and twirl the lid of the pot back over our heads, and then we can either go or shtay."

"Can you move the cover when you are down?"

"Aisily, sor. I've thried it. Now, then, what do ye say to that?"

Humphrey's answer was to hold out his hand and wring that of his companion.

There was an ample supply of food in the place for a week, and water and wine. Dinny's ideas respecting their safety seemed to be quite correct, for though voices were heard at a distance, no one approached the place.

They had the hidden subterranean tomb-like chamber into which they could retreat; and on the second night, while Dinny was watching and Humphrey, utterly worn-out, was sleeping feverishly and trying to forget the troubles and disappointments of his failure, there was a faint rustling noise heard, and directly after his name was whispered softly from above.

"Murther!" cried Dinny, unable to contain himself as he sprang up.

His exclamation and the noise he made brought Humphrey from his couch, alert, and ready for any struggle.

"What is it?" he said.

"Sure, sor, something freckened me. A mouse, I think."

"Dinny!" came in a reproachful voice from above.

"Mistress Greenheys!" cried Humphrey. "You there?"

"Yes. I cam' to try and learn tidings of you. I did not know you were both prisoners."

"Sure an' we're not, darlin'," said Dinny. "We only tuk refuge here, so as to be near you. An' where have you been?"

"I crept back to my place," said the woman, "and reached it without having been missed."

"Then ye're quite free to come and go?"

"Yes--quite."

"_Erin-go-bragh_!" cried Dinny, excitedly. "Then what ye've got to do, darling, is to go back and come again as soon as ye can wid something to ate, for we shall soon be starved."

"Yes, Dinny; I'll come again to-night."

"There's a darlin' for ye, sor. But tell us. What are they doing?"

"Searching for you far and wide; and the captain is furious. He says he will have you found."

"And ye've been quite well, darlin'?"

"Yes, Dinny. No, Dinny. I've been fretting to death to know what had become of you."

"Sure and I've been quite right, only I wanted to know about you.

n.o.body's middled wid ye, then?"

"No, Dinny--not yet."

"Arrah, shpake out now, and say what ye mane wid your 'not yet,'" cried Dinny, angrily.

"Black Mazzard."